Hundreds of animals flown to no-kill shelters

MONROE, N.C. - Hundreds of animals have a second chance Saturday thanks to volunteer pilots in Monroe, N.C. Dogs and cats were flown from overcrowded shelters, where they were slated to be euthanized.

For the more than 60 pilots who flew into the Charlotte Monroe Executive Airport these animals were worth every penny.

"About $1,200 of fuel back and forth," said Peter Weidhorn, who came from New Jersey. " We have eight or nine dogs about 5 to 10 pounds each and we have five kittens going back."

There were 300 pets here in all.

Some have already been adopted. Others will go to no-kill shelters in six other states.

"Rescue shelters who pulled the dogs from high-kill shelters drove from all over. From Vance, from Georgia, from North Carolina, drove through the wee hours of the morning to get them here on time," said organizer Michael Young.

"We're going to Tampa, Florida," said Brenda Stauffer, who with her husband, is part of the national nonprofit "Pilots n Paws" that made this happen.

"This is just a small part of what we can do to save some animals," she added.

The Humane Society says 4 million cats and dogs - about one every eight seconds - are euthanized in shelters each year.

Pilots told Channel 9 events like this are the perfect way for them to help decrease that number.

"This gives me a reason to fly and go somewhere and get out of the house and do something worthwhile at the same time. It combines my love of animals and love of flying," said pilot Bob Lampkin.